docs: def generate_dataset(self, cdl_path):
          '''
          Use ncgen to generate a netCDF file from a .cdl file
          Returns the path to the generated netcdf file
  
          :param str cdl_path: Absolute path to cdl file that is used to generate netCDF file
          '''
          if '.cdl' in cdl_path:  # it's possible the filename doesn't have the .cdl extension
              ds_str = cdl_path.replace('.cdl', '.nc')
          else:
              ds_str = cdl_path + '.nc'
          subprocess.call(['ncgen', '-o', ds_str, cdl_path])
          return ds_str